273    MIS 


H 


RADIANT  STAR 


Mrs.  Van  Anderson  Gordon  has  also 
written:  The  Journal  of  a  Live  Woman, 
The  Mystic  Scroll,  The  Right  Knock 
and  Carroll's  Conversion  (It  Is  Possible); 
The  Story  of  Teddy  (for  children), 
Temple  Teachings  &  The  Illumined  Life. 
Information  regarding  any  of  the  fore- 
going works  can  be  had  now  of  THE 
LITTLE  BROTHER  PUBLISHING 
COMPANY  at  J30J  California  Street, 
SAN  FRANCISCO 


Radiant  Star 

A  POEM  BY         ;'•    § 
Helen  Van- Anderson  Gordon 


SAN  FRANCISCO 

The  Little  Brother  Publishing  Company 
MCMX1 


Copyright,  J9JJ,  by  L.  Van  Anderson. 


DEDICATED 
TO  NOBLE  SOULS 

EVERYWHERE 
WHOSE  LIGHT  IS  SHINING 

WHEN  THEY 
KNOW  IT  NOT 


795269 


FOREWORD 
Ml 

As  Radiant  Star, 

That  shineth  far 
Upon  Earth's  midnight  darkness  deep, 

Doth  thro*  the  night 

A  beacon  light 
Become  for  wandering  feet, 

So  souls  may  shine, 

With  love  divine 

To  light  Life's  lonely  midnights  dark 
For  those  who  struggle  on  apart, 
Bewildered,  lone  and  sick  at  heart. 

O  Soul  divine, 

Arise  and  shine. 
Send  forth  thy  radiant  love-filled  beams 

Till  all  who  pine 

In  sorrow's  line 
May  spring,  awakened  from  their  dreams 

Of  loss  and  pain 

To  walk  again 
With  hope  and  courage  toward  the  Day. 

O  Star  of  Life,  in  every  ray 

Send  love  and  light  upon  Earth's  way. 


The  Mask  of  Grief  that  binds  the  soul 
And  makes  a  desert  of  the  world. 


THE   PRAYER 

9* 

HLONE  and  sighing  as  one  disheartened  by 
Repeated  failure  to  achieve  the  goal 
For  which  she  labored,  a  Woman  sat  beside 

A  table  and  leaned  her  tired  head  upon 
Her  hand.     The  night  was  still  and  sultry  with 

A  stifling  heat.     The  light  grew  dim.    A  moth 
That  fluttered  to  the  fatal  glow  at  last 

Had  fallen  victim  to  its  blind  ambition. 
Unheeding  sat  the  lonely  one,  nor  heard 

The  katydid  which  chirped  so  cheerily  in 
The  grass  outside,  nor  smelled  the  faint  sweet  odors 

That  floated  through  the  open  window  of 
The  humble  home.     The  blackness  of  her  grief 

Was  like  a  thick-wove  mantle  wound  and  bound 
Around  her,  imprisoning  every  sweet 

And  tender  impulse  in  her  anguished  heart. 
But  suddenly  despair  unlocked  the  gate 

Of  tears.     The  Wom^n  cried  aloud  and  wrung 
Her  hands,  while  sobs  and  tears  bespoke  her  torture. 

And  then  the  tumult  passed.     Selfless,  she  prayed: 


RADIANT    STAR 


"So  lonely,  lonely,  Lord,  am  1,  since  he, 
My  precious  boy  was  taken  from  my  arms! 
And  now  I  pray  for  place  amongst  Thine  own 
Whose  lives  are  given  to  Thee,  for  Thy  world's 

betterment. 

No  gift  have  1  to  bring,  dear  Lord,  except 
The  gift  of  love,  for  love's  dear  sake,  to  those 
Who  need.     Thou  knowest  how  circumscribed  my  life 
Has  been,  how  bound  about  by  petty  cares, 
How  lacking  in  the  time  to  do  the  work 
In  Thy  great  world  where  work  is  needed  most. 
I  have  no  special  skill  of  mind  or  hand, 
Dear  Lord/'  she  prayed,    "]  cannot  sing  to  charm 
Away  the  pangs  of  loneliness  or  grief — 
]  cannot  teach,  nor  preach,  nor  paint  great  pictures, 
Nor  tell  of  dawns  or  sunsets,  or  scenes  on  land 
Or  sea,  that  make  my  heart  enlarge 
But  leave  my  tougue  helpless  and  mute. 
My  Father,  I  can  but  serve  in  homely  ways; 
But  here!    My  arms  are  waiting  to  be  filled — 
('Twas  he,  my  boy,  who  taught  them  how  to  love.) 


THE    PRAYER 


My  heart  is  beating  true;  my  feet  but  wait 
Thy  call  to  bear  Thy  message  where  Thou  wilt. 
And  now,  O  God,  I  only  wait  Thy  placing — 
But  let  it  be  a  place  of  breadth  and  scope, 
Where  I  can  love  and  serve  Thy  needy  ones 
Most  mightily.     My  heart  is  starving  since 
My  boy  is  gone.     Yet  not  for  self  do  1 
Ask  Love,  but  only  for  the  loveless  ones 
Who  do  not  know  its  blessedness. 

Amen." 


Sweet  Sympathy,  whose  tender  heart 
Doth  make  of  her  Life's  ministering  angel. 


THE   DAY'S   WORK 

m 


narrow  circle  of  each  day's  duty  seemed 
The  same,  nor  did  the  tasks  that  filled  the  hours 
Become  less  irksome,  nor  the  trials  less. 
But  in  the  Woman's  eyes'  clear  wells,  there 

beamed 
A  wondrous  light,  as  though  the  soul  looked  out 

And  bade  a  welcome  to  each  passer-by, 
The  while  it  proffered  service  and  a  prayer. 

To  her,  (the  humble  seamstress  who  made  their  dresses 
For  gala  day  attire,)  came  ladies  gay 

Who  often,  while  with  her  laid  off  the  cloak 
Of  vanity,  to  tell  with  sobs,  sometimes, 

Of  burdens,  sore  perplexities  and  griefs 
Too  hard  to  bear.     Her  words  to  them  refreshed 

Like  water  cold  that  came  from  mountain  spring, 
Renewing  strength  and  courage. 

Again,  young  girls  were  drawn  to  seek  her  help. 
For  they,  too,  found  a  panacea  in 

Her  presence,  and  felt  impelled  to  ask  of  her 
The  questions  only  such  as  she  can  answer. 
And  oft  in  journeying  to  and  fro  between 


RADIANT    STAR 


Her  home  and  stately  mansions  where  she  sewed. 

The  children,  playing  on  the  street,  would  run 
To  her,  and  take  her  hand  and  ask  protection 

From  barking  dog,  the  car,  or  teasing  playmate. 
While  once,  a  birdling,  breathless  and  forsaken, 

Flew  chirping  to  her  hollowed  hand  for  refuge. 
"With  heart  and  hand  thus  opened  wide  for  service 

She  poured  her  crystal  stream  of  tenderness 
On  sad  and  thirst-parched  hearts,  until,  renewed 

Like  desert  wastes  fresh-washed  by  mother  Nile, 
They  grew  as  watered  gardens,  rich  with  fruit  and 
flowers. 

The  woman,  not  knowing  all  this  wonder-work 
Continued  in  her  loving  helpfulness, 

The  while  the  work  by  which  she  earned  her  daily 

bread 
Ran  its  appointed  round. 

Her  private  grief  was  changed  to  greater  yearning 
To  be  the  comforter  of  those  who  suffer. 

For  this  she  would  become  a  nurse,  she  thought, 
And  study  all  the  healing  arts  of  nursing, 


8 


THE    DAY'S    WORK 


That  skilled  and  true,  her  hands  might  be  more 
potent, 

Her  mind  more  wise  to  give  its  ministry. 
And  thus  with  aim  and  purpose  firmly  fixed, 

She  worked  to  earn,  and  save  her  earnings  that  she 
Might  train  for  this,  which  seemed  the  larger  field. 

But  long  it  looked,  this  path  that  she  had  chosen; 
And  long,  so  long,  the  time  of  preparation. 

Some  days  her  heart  grew  sick  with  weariness 
At  thought  of  all  the  good  she  might  be  doing, 

Were  she  but  free  to  carry  out  her  plan. 


Ill 


Because  thy  heart  hath  loved,  thy  hands  have  served, 
To  thee  hath  ccrtne  the  time  fbr  knowing  Truth. 


THE    DREAM 
Ml 

long  day,  warm,  depleting,  marked  by 
pin-pricks 

irritating  circumstance,  at  last 
Was  over.     Wearily  the  woman  sighed, 
As  languidly  she  doffed  her  work-day  garments, 
And  robed  herself  for  longed-for,  blissful  rest. 

Before  her  prayer  and  silent  meditation 
Should  prelude  the  peaceful  night's  caress, 

Her  fond  eyes  sought  the  portrait  of  her  boy. 
"Good  night,  my  darling  one,  good  night  to  you," 

She  said.     And  yearning,  kissed  the  pictured  face. 
Then  suddenly  the  tides  of  memory  broke 

Their  bounds,  and  like  a  tidal  wave  submerged 
Her  mother-heart.     Bravely  she  sought  to  hold 
The  posts  of  courage,  to  stay  the  hard-earned 

bulwarks 

Of  patience  and  sweet  faith.     But  no,  the  storm 
Must  have  its  way:     The  long,  fatiguing  days, 
The  lonely  nights,  the  anxious  longing  for 
The  greater  work,  had  subtly  undermined 


13 


RADIANT    STAR 


Her  faltering  human  strength. 

She  wept  and  sobbed  and  wrung  her  frantic  hands, 
Until  at  last,  praying,  she  fell  asleep 

Beside  her  shrine — the  couch  of  her  dear  child. 

She  dreamed,  and  in  her  dream  an  Angel  came 

Ensphered  in  radiance  passing  human  speech. 
Its  rays,  in  beaming  slendor  shone  upon 

Her  eyes  grown  big  with  awe  and  speechless  wonder. 
Advancing  with  majestic  tread,  and  arms 

Outspread  in  benison,  his  kindly  gaze 
Met  hers.     What  strange,  what  heavenly  miracle 

Was  this  that  now  transformed  her  consciousness? 
A  rare  surpassing  energy  swift  rolled 

In  thrilling  waves  through  all  her  awe-struck  being. 
It  gave  her  strengh  to  bear,  if  need  be,  all 

The  burdens  of  the  world.     It  keyed  her  ears 
To  hearing  music  from  another  sphere, 

And  such  as  language  of  poor  Earth 
Could  ne'er  decribe.     It,  like  electric  fire,  touched 

Her  eyes  and  made  her  see  what  eyes  alone 


THE    DREAM 


Can  never  see.     In  that  first  instant  when  the  Angel's 

gaze 
Swept  through  her,  did  the  miracle  take  place. 

But  hark!     His  voice  of  matchless  melody 
Awakened  echoes  in  her  soul,  as  with 

An  outflung  gesture  he  exclaimed:  "Behold!" 
And  with  the  music  of  the  word,  a  ray 

Of  Light  shot  forth,  outr caching  far  beyond 
The  boundaries  of  keenest  human  sight. 

In  manner  wondrous  and  intangible, 
Her  sense  of  seeing  seemed  to  merge  and  hold 

Within  the  compass  of  the  awesome  Light, 
And  where  it  fell,  her  vision  clear  did  follow. 

Its  shaft  of  radiance  revealed  such  scenes 
As  mark  the  round  Earth's  varied,  teeming  surface. 

In  groups,  or  single  and  alone,  she  saw 
God's  family  of  souls  in  all  conditions 

And  degrees  of  human  life.    The  young  and  old, 
The  evil  workers  and  the  good,  (  mixed  as 

They  are),  in  vast  kaleidoscopic  throngs 
That  constitute  humanity. 


15 


RADIANT    STAR 


With  burdens  grievous  many  toiled  and  suffered; 
Bewildered,  some  had  lost  their  tortuous  way 

And  wandered  blindly  in  the  fearsome  dark 
Of  evil.     She  heard  the  cries  of  children  as, 

Bereft  of  shelter,  guidance  or  the  crown 
Of  childhood — mothers'  tenderness — they  roamed 

Through  streets,  or  worked  in  factories  or  mines, 
Where  Nature,  outraged,  bent  their  tiny  backs, 

Repressed  and  stifled  all  their  youthful  joy 
And  set  upon  each  face  the  damning  seal 

Of  man's  brutality  and  greed. 
Again  the  Light  flashed  forth.    The  Woman  saw 

The  bruised  and  the  beaten  of  the  earth,  grief-bowed 
And  needing  ministry  from  heaven.     Meltingly 

She  cried:  "Oh,  tell  me  why  this  awful  suffering?" 
"Most  faithful  one,"  the  Angel  said,  "Attend, 

And  thou  shalt  know  Life's  mystery  and  meaning, 

These  myriad  throngs  thou  seest  who  live  upon 
The  earth  are  souls  who  wear  the  mask  of  flesh 
And  circumstance.     Through  all  the  years  of  time, 


THE    DREAM 


Both  night  and  day,  in  pleasure  or  in  pain, 

In  toil  or  grief  or  noble  works  or  ill, 

They  travel  on  the  the  pilgrim  road.     Tor  souk 

Or  great,  or  rich  or  poor,  befouled  with  sin, 

Or  crowned  with  selfless  love  are  all,  Divine, 

Yet  often  know  it  not.     Through  ignorance 

Comes  evil,  ill  and  sorrow,  until  the  anguish 

Doth  like  a  fire,  purify  the  heart 

Preparing  it  to  love  its  fellows  as 

Itself.     "But  "Life  gives  lessons  through  experience; 

Through  this  is  wisdom  gained,  then  knowledge  true, 

And  power  of  discernment;  then  choice  of  act, 

Jlnd  so  through  all  the  round  of  human  life." 

"The  innocent,  the  good,  must  they,  too,  suffer?"  cried 
The  Woman,  in  agony  of  tears  remembering 

The  grief-bowed,  and  the  little  ones  bereft. 
"Look  for,  and  gain  the  deeper  meaning,  O 

My  child,"  the  Angel  whispered  as  the  Light 
Grew  dim. 

t(The  law  of  suffering  is  two-fold; 


17 


RADIANT    STAR 


It  bringeth  life  to  those  who  serve  the  sufferer. 

It  bringeth  death  at  last  to  self,  for  self 

Js  but  the  husk  of  Spirit  and  must  die 

In  order  that  the  seed  Divine  may  burst 

Its  prison  walls  and  live  on  earth,  a  flower 

Of  heaven,  dispensing  heavenly  essence — LOVE" 

And  then  the  Light  burst  forth  transcendent] y. 

"Behold!"  and,  as  the  Angel  spake  again, 
The  Light  with  mystic  power  revealed  the  heart 

And  mind,  the  character  and  daily  aim 
Of  those  who,  man  or  woman,  live  on  the  heights 

Of  Life.     And  as  the  wondrous  glory  shone 
About  them  it  wove  a  shining  aureole 

Around  their  heads,  until  the  beaming  rays 
Extended  far  throughout  the  night-hued  clouds 

Of  Earth.     So  crowned,  these  noble  souls  became 
As  stars,  radiant,  splendid,  glorious — 

Out-raying  star-like  beams  that  reached 
The  weary  workers  at  their  work;  the  poor 

Discouraged  ones  who  needed  friendly  words, 


THE  DREAM 


And  hearts  that  pined  in  darkness  —  all  were  helped 
And  blessed. 

The  vision  passed  yet  still  the  Angel  stood 

Beside  her.     He  spake  again: 
"Awake,  O  faithful  soul,  and  go  thy  way; 
Because  thy  heart  hath  loved,  thy  hands  have  served, 
To  thee  hath  come  the  time  for  knowing  Truth. 

Rejoicing  in  thy  privilege,  be  steadfast, 
In  fullest  faith  believing  when  thy  work 

Is  finished  in  one  field  thou  wilt  be  called 
To  labor  in  the  next. 


Arise  and  shine  "Beloved.     Thy  great 

Doth  make  of  thee  a  J{JIDJJMT  STA1{." 


19 


IT  JS  A  GOOD  WORK.  If  it  has  been 
WELL  DONE,     we  are  then  satisfied. 

Know,  then,  that  this  little  book  has 
been  designed  and  illustrated  by  Mr.  L. 
VAN  ANDERSON  and  printed  for  The 
Little  Brother  Publishing  Company  at 
the  shop  of  RICARDO  J.  OROZCO  at 
3J5  Sutter  Street  in  San  Francisco,  on 
the  first  day  of  November,  Anno  Domini: 
M  C  M  X  1 


Photomount 

Pamphlet 

Binder 

Gaylord  Bros.,  Inc.  \ 

Makers 

Stockton,  Calif. 

PAT.  JAN.  2).  1908 


r'95269 


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